Three-dimensional gas panel

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional gas display device wherein a plurality of gas discharge matrices are stacked forming a three-dimensional array. Each of the gas discharge matrices is formed by two planes of parallel glass enclosed wires, the glass enclosed wires of one plane running perpendicular to the other plane of glass enclosed wires. A gaseous element is placed between the parallel planes of glass wires. Means are provided for applying a potential difference between the two wires intersecting at any point in the three-dimensional array causing a continuous electric discharge at this point. By correctly selecting the intersecting points, a three-dimensional design can be displayed.

United States Patent 1 3,585,443

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,480 6/1956Ruderfer......................

[72] Inventor George M. Krernbs Hyde Park, N.Y.

315/169 3,499,167 3/1970 Baker et 315/169 Primary Examiner- Raymond F.Hossfeld Attorneys-Hanifln & J ancin and Maurice H. Klitzman v 3 9 w.osee-l m in ooJJhCA a de N mm n I 8 P i p mmfi AFPA .llll 253 2247 [.lll.

ABSTRACT: A three-dimensional gas display device wherein a plurality ofgas discharge matrices are stacked forming a three-dimensional array.Each of the gas discharge matrices 18 formed by two planes of parallelglass enclosed wires, the glass enclosed wires of one plane runningperpendicular to the other plane of glass enclosed wires. A gaseouselement'is placed between the parallel planes of glass wires. Means areprovided for applying a potential difference between the two wiresintersecting at any point in the three-dimensional array causing acontinuous electric discharge at this point. By correctly selecting theintersecting points, a three-dimensional design can be displayed.

DISPLAY CONTROL POWER SUPPLY PATENTEU JUN 1 519m FIG] DISPLAY CONTROL UDI DI U S R [L W 0 DI X-Y-Z DISPLAY CONTROL 8 POWER SUPPLY INVENTOR (ifORM M KREMHO THREE-DIMENSIONAL GAS PANEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field .of the Invention The invention relates to electric lamp anddischarge devices in their systems and more particularly where suchdischarge device is a space discharge device.

2. Description of the Prior Art Spaced discharge devices comprising amatrix of spaced electrode pairs and having disposed between these pairsa gaseous element have been known for a number of years. Originally, theelectrode pairs were in direct contact with the gaseous element. Avoltage is maintained between the two electrodes, forming theelectrodepair, sufficient to cause an pair discharge in the gaseouselement between the two electrodes. One-half of the necessary firingpotential is impressed on each electrode. After the initial dischargethe voltage between the two pairs can be and is lowered withoutextinguishing the discharge. Thus, where another electrode impressedwith one-half the firing potential intersects with an electrodeimpressed with one-half the sustaining potential, a discharge does notoccur since the potential difference is not greater than the firingpotential. By a further decrease in the voltage between electrode pairthe discharge can be extinguished. Selectively applying the firingvoltage (the voltage sufficient to initiate a discharge) to particularpairs of electrodes, designs and figures can be created in the matrix ofelectrode pairs. Inasmuch as the insulating members are transparent,these designs can be observed from outside the panel.

Since these prior art gas discharge matrices were essentiallytwo-dimensional in character, i.e. all electrode pairs lay in a plane,the designs displayed were two-dimensional.

A further development was realized when the electrodes were removed fromdirect contact and insulated from a gaseous element. Of course in thisembodiment it was necessary to utilize an alternating current so thatthe electron charge gradually created on the insulating memberseparating the electrode from the gaseous element do not neutralize thevoltage between the electrode pairs.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide athree-dimensional gas discharge array.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide such an arraywhich allows the free interchange of ionized gas between differentelectrodes in the same matrix and electrodes in dif ferent matrices.

Lastly, it is an object to provide such an array formed of glass coatedwires.

l SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Unlike the prior art devices the inventioncan displayv designs in three dimensions. A plurality of two-dimensionalgas discharge matrices are stacked in a third dimension. Each of thetwo-dimensional gas display matricesis formed by two parallel planes ofglass enclosed wires, the wires in one plane running perpendicular tothe wires in the other plane. I

By using matrices formed of glass enclosed wires, rather than matricesformed by wires printed onto-a solid insulating member and stackingthese matrices, the invention allows a freer interchange of ionized gasbetween the stacked matrices. This provides a more uniform firingpotential between different electrode pairs.

Brief Description OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects,features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing more particular description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of one two-dimensional matrix.

FIG. 3 is a side view of thethree-dimensional matrix of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I there isillustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.2 a two-dimensional gas discharge matrix is formed by a first set ofparallel glass enclosed wires 1 and a second set of parallel glassenclosed wires 3. Glass enclosed wires 1 run perpendicular to glassenclosed wires 3 while the plane of glass enclosed wires 1 is parallelto the plane of glass enclosed wires 3. Parallel glass enclosed wires 1in combination with parallel glass enclosed wires 3 form atwo-dimensional gas discharge matrix 5. In each two-dimensional gasdischarge matrix 5 the intersection of each glass coated wire 1 witheach glass enclosed wire 3 forms an electrode pair.

As shown in FIGS. I and 3 the three-dimensional gas discharge displayarray is formed by a plurality of parallel twodimensional gas dischargematrices 5. The entire three-dimensional gas discharge array is locatedin the hermetically sealed container 7. The front face 9 of hermeticallysealed container 7 is transparent. Hermetically sealed box 7 is filledwith an ionizable gaseous element in sufficient density to sustainelectric discharges, the process which is well known in the art.

The glass enclosed wires 1 and 3 of each two-dimensional gas dischargematrix 5 are connected to X-Y-Z display control and power supply 11.X-Y- Z display control and power supply 11 can supply electrical energyto the intersecting electrode pairs in any well-known manner such asshown in U.S. Pat. Application Ser. No. 785,172, Display System, filedby James C. Greeson, Jr., et al., Dec. 19, 1968, assigned to the sameassignee as the instant application. The wiring scheme shown in thefigures is only illustrative of one possible scheme and it is in no wayessential to the present invention.

Moreover, X-Y-Z display control 11 can be any suitable switching means,such as a manual bank of switches, a computer, etc.

OPERATION OF THE INVENTION I The electrode pairs formed by glassenclosed wires 1 and 3 are fired through the X-Y-Z display control andpower supply 17 in the well-known manner. That is, either throughcomputer control, manual operation, or some other well-known method(none of these are shown in the figure for purposes of clarity) slightlygreater than one-half of the firing potential of different polarities isimpressed on each of the two electrodes associated with a givenintersecting point in the gas display array contained in box 7. At thepoint where these two electrodes intersect the applied voltages add suchthat the potential difference between the two electrodes is greater thanthe firing potential. This causes a discharge at this point. Only atthis point will the potential difference between the two electrodes begreat enough to initiate a discharge. That is, the other electrode pairswith which the glass enclosed wires have slightly greater than one-halfof the firing potential intersect with other glass enclosed wires havingno voltage impressed upon them or only the sustaining voltage. In eitherof these cases the addition of the firing potential and the otherpotential is not great enough to cause a discharge. Immediately afterdischarge occurs at the desired point in the three-dimensional gasdisplay array, X-Y-Z display control 1! lowers the potential on thesetwo glass enclosed wires forming the electrode pair to slightly greaterthen one half the sustaining potential.

By correctly programming X-Y-Z display control and power supply 11 athree-dimensional design can be formed in thethree-dimensional gasdisplay array in box 7. This design can be viewed through thetransparent walls, in the preferred embodiment side 9 of box 7.

Because of the open construction of the two-dimensional gas dischargematrices 5, the ionized gases are free to circulate throughout box 7.This allows a more uniform distribution of the ionized gas resulting ina more uniform firing potential for each of the electrode pairs and amore uniform firing potential.

Further, by the use of glass enclosed wires, the metallic element is outof contact with the gaseous element, thereby preventing deterioration ofthe wire itself. Since in the preferred embodiment the gas is separatedfrom the wire by an insulating element, glass, the power supplied byX-Y-Z display control and power supply 11 must be alternating current.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit oftheinvention.

What I claim is:

l. A three-dimensional gas display device including:

a plurality of parallel gas discharge matrices, each matrix including:

a first set of parallel glass enclosed wires;

a second set of parallel glass enclosed wires perpendicular to saidfirst set of wires, the plane of said second set substantially parallelto the plane of said first set of enclosed wires; and

an ionizable gas medium disposed between the planes of said sets ofwires;

control means applying a potential difference sufficient to cause adischarge between two selectable intersecting wires in one of saidplurality of matrices.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein all of said parallel gas dischargematrices are in a single box, transparent on at least one side.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said ionizable gas medium can freelyflow between said parallel gas discharge matrices.

1. A three-dimensional gas display device including: a plurality ofparallel gas discharge matrices, each matrix including: a first set ofparallel glass enclosed wires; a second set of parallel glass enclosedwires perpendicular to said first set of wires, the plane of said secondset substantially parallel to the plane of said first set of enclosedwires; and an ionizable gas medium disposed between the planes of saidsets of wires; control means applying a potential difference sufficientto cause a discharge between two selectable intersecting wires in one ofsaid plurality of matrices.
 2. A device as in claim 1 wherein all ofsaid parallel gas discharge matrices are in a single box, transparent onat least one side.
 3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said ionizable gasmedium can freely flow between said parallel gas discharge matrices.